Although Chemnitz was the European Capital of Culture in 2025, few people outside of Germany have heard of this city in Saxony. In fact, even I had never heard of Chemnitz until I bought tickets to a concert being held in the city and began researching my own trip. Would I be able to find enough things to do in Chemnitz to keep me busy for my entire stay?
The answer to that question is that if you’re coming to Chemnitz for a short stay, like one or two days, you’ll find ample things to see and do to fill your itinerary. If you’re staying longer, you’ll want to look into some day trips to nearby cities, towns and villages, as you can easily check off all of the best things to do in Chemnitz in just one weekend.
In this Chemnitz travel guide I’ll highlight ten things do do in Chemnitz during your visit, based on my own week in the city. At the end I’ll also recommend some day trip options, plus some hotels and restaurants you might want to reserve for your own trip.
1 – The Karl Marx Monument
If you’re looking for a really big Karl Marx head, you’ve come to the right place. Towering more than seven meters tall and sculpted out of bronze, this monument sits in front of an inscription that reads “Workers of the World Unite” in multiple languages.
The city of Chemnitz was actually briefly renamed Karl-Marx-Stadt from 1953 until German reunification in 1990. It was built in 1971 on a street that (at the time) was conveniently known as Karl-Marx-Allee. Are you sensing a theme?
Although this is Chemnitz’s most famous landmark, it doesn’t seem to get too busy. I walked past it several times during my stay and there were rarely any other tourists there checking it out.
2 – Markt Square Chemnitz
A market has stood in the center of Chemnitz since the 1100s, but it really grew during the 1400s with the construction of trading houses (residences on top, shopping arcades on the ground floor).
The most famous building on the square is the Siegert House, a baroque residence with an ornate pink facade. Siegert was a local businessman who helped begin the development of the local textile industry.
Other important buildings located on the markt square include the Altes Rathaus (Old City Hall), the New Town Hall (which houses a mural by Max Klinger) and the multilayered “Manifold” water fountain. There’s also a contemporary shopping center and the main tourist information office.
3 – Jakobkirche
Like many buildings, the Jakobkirche (Church of Saint Jacob) in Chemnitz was destroyed during World War 2, and reconstructed in the post-war years.
The building combines elements of both Gothic and Art Nouveau styles, including colorful buttresses and warm, terracotta-colored tiles on the floor.
At the time of my visit it was free to enter the Jakobkirche. Parts of the interior were being used as an art gallery, which you can see in the photo above.
4 – The Museum of Natural History
The most famous exhibit in the Museum of Natural History in Chemnitz is located in the lobby, and it’s free to pop inside to see. Here, logs from the city’s 300-million-year-old petrified forest are on display. They are among the world’s best examples of siliceous wood, which is a natural process in which silica replaces organic materials while preserving their original form.
The museum is home to many other fossilized specimens (the result of a prehistoric volcanic eruption) and hands-on exhibits designed specifically for young visitors.
* There are free public toilets inside the museum building.
5 – Schlossteich Park
I discovered the Schlossteich Park in Chemnitz when I was passing time before my dinner reservation at nearby Janssen (see my restaurant recommendations below). I took the opportunity to walk the one-kilometer loop around the city’s pond, on shady, tree-lined paths.
While you’re walking around the pond you can rent paddle boats from the “Gondelstation am Schlossteich” or stop for a drink or snack at the pretty, waterfront Café Milchhäuschen.
My guidebook also mentions that there is a church and monastery nearby but I think they’re up the hill behind the pond, and I didn’t realize it at the time.
6 – The Red Tower
Most of the Chemnitz city center feels quite modern, which makes the historic Red Tower (Roter Turm) stand out. The oldest landmark in the city stands 35 meters tall and was used both for defensive purposes and later as a prison.
Occasionally the Red Tower is open for visits – your best best is to ask at the Tourist Information office when you arrive in the city. Otherwise, you can walk around its based to see plaques commemorating important artists from Chemnitz.
At the time of my visit there was also a small farmer’s market set up at the base of the Red Tower. Vendors were selling fruits, vegetables and flowers. It’s possible the market is only open in the summer months.
7 – The Chemnitz Art Collections Museum
Chemnitz is home to one of the largest public art collections in Germany, and this museum on Theaterplatz is where those works are on rotating display. Most of the works are by German artists, including many from Chemnitz and the surrounding areas in Saxony.
Admission to the art collection is €10 for adults. Children under 18 are free. The museum is usually open from Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays).
8 – Petrikirche (Church of Saint Peter)
Petrikirche, or the Church of Saint Peter, is also located on Theaterplatz. This Neo-Gothic building was constructed from sandstone and brick, and is known for its ornate entrance (locked away behind a gate at the time of my visit). The church is also home to a significant organ and historical bells.
Your best chance of visiting the church interior is in the afternoon, from Wednesday to Sunday. However, although I visited during the posted opening hours, the gate was still locked…
9 – Stadtbad Swimming Pools
I love German spas, and Chemnitz is home to one of the country’s best public baths. The city swimming pool is a stunning example of Bauhaus architecture, and at the time of its construction it was one of the most important contemporary buildings in all of Germany.
Inside the pool complex there is a 50-meter swimming pool, but more importantly there is also a sauna zone with several dry saunas and steam rooms, as well as relaxation pools. The recent introduction of one day a week where swimsuits must be worn in the sauna seems to have sparked some local outrage, so check before visiting as to whether you’re going on a textile-free day or a swimsuit-mandatory day.
10 – State Museum of Archeology
It looks like a department store from outside, but the interior of this building actually houses the State Museum of Archeology, or SMAC.
The exhibits here cover 300,000 years of human history in Saxony, from prehistory to the dawn of industrialization. Collections are spread over three levels, with a fourth floor reserved for visiting temporary exhibits. Highlights within the collection include the life-sized “Glass Neanderthal” model, the oldest clay figurine in Central Europe, and the map of Saxony that hovers in the air between all three floors of the collections.
SMAC is open from Tuesday to Sunday and regular admission is €8. Admission includes an audioguide that is available in German, English and Czech.
Bonus! Festivals in Chemnitz
Chemnitz hosts a few different annual festivals that might be worth planning your trip around:
- Weinfest Chemnitz – This wine festival lasts almost a full month in the summer. 50+ vendors set up in the Markt square, offering wine tastings (or bottles!), festival food and nightly entertainment. I visited almost every day during my stay in Chemnitz, and I came home with a Karl Marx wine glass as a souvenir!
- Chemnitz Christmas Market – Typically running from late November until a day or two before Christmas, the annual Chemnitz Christmas Market sees about 150 vendors set up in the same location.
- KOSMOS – More than 100,000 people come to Chemnitz each summer for this festival promoting democracy and social justice through the arts, culture, business and academia.
Bonus! Day Trips from Chemnitz
Chemnitz is about one hour by fast train from both Leipzig and Dresden, so you could visit either as a day trip (though personally I would go the other way and stay in Dresden or Leipzig, and day trip to Chemnitz).
You can also visit a number of smaller towns and villages in Saxony by train from Chemnitz. The day trip that I enjoyed the most was to Freiberg, which is a very pretty little town with one of the world’s best mineralogical museums.
I also took a short day trip to Glauchau, which is home to a pretty castle museum. Although I did this day trip by train, I would recommend going by car if possible (more on why at the link).
I had flagged Zwönitz as a town that looked interesting, but ultimately decided that it too would be best visited by car.
My Recommended Hotels in Chemnitz
There are surprisingly few hotels in the center of Chemnitz, probably because it doesn’t get very many foreign tourists and most German travelers arrive by car (and thus might stay a bit further afield). Here are a few properties I would recommend checking out if you’re planning to come to Chemnitz:
- Hotel Chemnitzer Hof – The real reason I was in Chemnitz was to see a concert in Theaterplatz, and during the performance I realized that some of the room at this four-star hotel have direct views over the square (which is good if you’re a fan of the music, maybe not if you don’t like the genre on offer!). Regardless, this is Chemnitz’s most famous hotel, known for its Art Deco design and high level of service.
- B&B Hotel Chemnitz – B&B is a popular chain of affordable hotels across Europe. I stayed at one of their hotels in Madrid and thought it was a great value, and I’m sure their hotel in Chemnitz is also a good choice for travelers on a budget.
- 50s Ville Hotel Chemnitz – This retro-inspired property is a short tram ride from the center but it has rooms in a water tower! There’s a vintage diner on site for breakfast and classic cuisine.
- Apartment Rental in Chemnitz – I stayed in this apartment, which had its pros and cons. It was an easy walk to the train station for arrival, deparature and day trips, and it was so spacious. It makes my Canadian condo feel like a doll house! The only downside was very noisy neighbors.
Where to Eat in Chemnitz
I can’t say I found the food scene in Chemnitz to be very exciting. Towards the end of my trip I learned that the best restaurants aren’t in the city center; rather they’re near the Schloßteich Park and the fancy houses that surround it. Because I was in Chemnitz during Weinfest I often ate there for dinner, but I also stopped by a few other restaurants:
- Janssen – Shown above, this was the restaurant I enjoyed the most in Chemnitz. They had a nice riverfront terrace and a proper vegetarian option on the menu. Reservations are necessary, especially for summer dining on the terrace.
- Wenzel Chemnitz – The servers at this Czech restaurant were friendly and multilingual. I’ve heard the meaty dishes are good, and they were able to create a full meal for me out of side dishes.
- Miramar Chemnitz – I saved this restaurant onto my Google Maps but forgot to go. This hilltop restaurant has really good reviews for its burgers (including a veggie burger) and German cuisine. If you’re in Chemnitz with kids, they also have a children’s menu.
- Peacefood Chemnitz – I believe this is the only vegan restaurant in the city. I went for breakfast in the summer and it was okay, but I assume it’s busier and better when classes at the university are in session.
The best place for groceries is the REWE supermarket on Lohstrasse in the city center. Alternately, the Aldi on Theaterstrasse is a good option. Note that both are closed on Sundays.
Make sure to read these related Saxony travel guides before your trip!
🚂 How to Ride the Narrow-Gauge Railway from Zittau to Oybin
⭐ The Best Things to Do in Zittau, Germany
🏰 Delitzsch: A Cute Day Trip from Leipzig
🌉 The Best Things to Do in Görlitz, Saxony, Germany
🥗Vegetarian Food in Germany: What to Eat & Where to Eat It
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